Spirit level holder



June 19, 1951 R. 'r. HUBBARD SPIRIT LEVEL HOLDER Filed Feb. 20, 1946 INVEN TOR. Richard T Hubbard BY HTYURNEY Patented June 19, 1951 T] OFFICE SPIRIT LEVEL HOLDER Richard T. Hubbard, Spokane, Wash. Application February 20. 1946, Serial No. 648,876

1 Claim. 1

'The present invention is directed to improvements in spirit levels.

The primary object of the invention is to provide novel means for adjusting the fluid containing leveling tubes, the construction being suchv that after adjustments are made the tubes will I when these holders occupy the openings 2 the tongs i1 and lip l8 will be embedded in the walls remain in their adjusted positions for indefinite periods.

Another object of the invention is to provide 1 a device of this character so constructed thatthe tubes will remain in their adjusted positions should the level be subjected to undue shocks. 1

With these and other objects in view, thisjin vention resides in the novel features of construcl tion, formation, combination and arrangemei; parts to be hereinafter more fully describ d,

claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a. level. Figure 2 is a side view, partly broken away.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the holders for the horizontal leveling tubes.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a holder for one of the vertical leveling tubes.

Referring to the drawing, i designates the level body formed from wood or other suitable material, and formed with openings 2 adjacent its ends and a central opening 3.

Formed in one side of the body I and adjacent the opening 3 is a recess 4, while adjacentopposite ends of the openings 2 are formed recesses 5, the purpose ofwhich will later appear.

Since the holder 6 for adjusting the tubes 1 for leveling horizontal surfaces are identical, the description of one will sumce for both. '1 1 These holders, as clearly shown in Figure 3 consist of suitable gauge sheet metal, and iificl de an elongated strip 8, one end of which terminates in an inclined plate 9 and a terminal lip it Each holder 6 further consists of a tube su porting cradle I I, the side edges of which are bent into engagement with the side edges of the strip 8, the ends of which terminate in angularly disposed heads l2, each having seats I: formed therein for receiving and holding the ends of the tubes I firmly in place.

The holders are retained in the opening'lupon embedding the ends of the strips 8, and the. lips ID in the body I and in the end walls offsaid 2 of the screws the holders will flex, due to their inherent resiliency, thereby accurately calibrating the level.

The holders ii for the vertical tubes l5 each consist of a sheet metal arcuate shaped strip l6, one end having tongs l1 and an off-set lip l8.

of the openings, thus retaining the holders in place.

The strips l6 have seats I 9 formed in their ends and in which are engaged the ends of the respective tubes l5, there being recesses 20 formed in the walls of the openings 2 to receive the ends of the tubes IE to permit movement thereof durin adjustment.

Screws 2| are engaged in the body I and the heads thereof occupythe recesses 5, while their inner ends engage the strips l6 so that upon adjustment of the screws the holders l5 may be flexed for that part of their length not anchored by the tongs l1 and lips l8.

Since the respective holders are formed from sheet metal adjustment of the tubes can be easily and quickly made, and due to their inherent resiliency the tubes cannot be moved from adjustments due to shocks. 7

What is claimed is:

A holder for a bubble tube of a level comprising a mounting strip fiat throughout the major portion of its length and having end portions adapted to be embedded in end walls of an opening formed in the body of a level and firmly hold the mounting strip in the opening longitudinally thereof, a saddle formed from a strip of resilient material extending #longitudinally of said mounting strip and held in flat contacting engagement therewith by side extensions bent inwardly and having overlapping. engagement with opposite side edge portions ofthe mounting strip, end portions of the strip forming said saddle being bent diagonally away from the mounting strip and then away from the diagonal portion and again bent inwardly to form hook shaped portions having bills adapted to overlie end portions of a bubble tube, the said billsbeing bent to form tubeengaging, free end portions extending inwardly at an incline and having corner portions bent to form prongs for engaging side portions of the tube and hold the tube-engaging end portions in pressing engagement'with the tubes whereby the tube is firmly held against the diagonally extending portions.

* RICHARD T. HUBBARD.

(References'pn following page) 3 4 REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date The following references are of record in the 1177131 Neldl 1916 1,348,742 Roeske Aug. 3, 1920 me ms patent 1 738 791 Ober Dec 10 1929 UNITED STATES PAIENIS 5 1:8l5:949 Mam-.5115' Juli 28 1931 Number Name Date 2,223,683 Gruber Dec. 3, 1940 523,023 Traut July 17, 1894 REI PATENT 876,720 n an-191 ,s 908,406 '1 Henderson 1390.29,; 1908 Number Comm Date 1,050,610 Burdick et a1. Jail. 14, 1913 10 42,228 "Sweden 1913 

